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Severe Burn Injury in a Swine Model for Clinical Dressing Assessment
Published on: November 6, 2018
An analysis of 550 hospitalized pediatric burn patients in Hong Kong
1Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin.
Insights
This study analyzed 550 pediatric burn patients, finding scalds from domestic accidents were most common. Most young burn victims healed without surgery, resulting in a very low mortality rate.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Burn Care
- Trauma Surgery
- Public Health
Background:
- Pediatric burns are a significant cause of injury in children.
- Understanding the epidemiology of pediatric burns is crucial for prevention and treatment strategies.
- Hong Kong's Prince of Wales Hospital serves a diverse pediatric population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the characteristics and outcomes of pediatric burn admissions.
- To identify common causes and demographics of pediatric burns.
- To evaluate treatment efficacy and mortality rates in young burn patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 550 pediatric burn patients admitted between March 1993 and February 1999.
- Data collected included patient demographics, burn etiology, size (total body surface area - TBSA), injury type, treatment, and outcomes.
- Statistical analysis of admission trends, hospital stay, and mortality.
Main Results:
- Scalding (90.4%) from domestic accidents (87.5%) were the leading causes of burns in 550 pediatric patients.
- Toddlers (<2 years) comprised 42.7% of admissions; median burn size was 5% TBSA.
- Low rates of severe burns (≥30% TBSA) and inhalation injuries (1.9%) were observed, with a mortality rate of 0.2%.
Conclusions:
- Domestic scalds are the primary cause of pediatric burns, particularly in toddlers.
- Effective management led to high healing rates without surgery for most patients.
- The study highlights a low incidence of severe burns and a favorable mortality outcome in this pediatric cohort.
Abstract:
A total of 550 acute burn patients under the age of 15 years were admitted to the Burns Unit of Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong between March 1993 and February 1999. There were 337 males and 213 females with a male to female ratio of 1.58:1. The median age was 2.5 years and the median burn size was 5% total body surface area (TBSA). Toddlers of age < 2 years accounted for 235 (42.7%) of admission. Domestic burns resulted in 481 (87.5%) injuries followed by play-related burns that caused 34 (6.2%) admissions. Scalding was the most common cause of injury, which accounted for 497 (90.4%) admissions, followed by flame burns, which resulted in 45 (8.2%) injuries. Nine patients (1.6%) had inhalation injury requiring intubation and ventilatory support. The median hospital stay was 8 days and there was no seasonal variation in admission. The majority of patients (80.2%) had their wounds healed without any operation. Only 19 out of 550 patients (3.5%) had burns of 30% TBSA or larger, and only nine patients (1.9%) had inhalation injuries. Only one patient died in this series, which yielded a mortality rate of 0.2%.
